. >>> this could be one of the most crucial days of the election. president obama and mitt romney will face off tonight in their first presidential debate. it will take place at this hockey arena in denver. romney has spent the past few days in the mile high city preparing for tonight. he took a break yesterday for lunch at chipotle. the president has been preparing in nevada. he visited the hoover dam. both campaigns now how crucial tonight's debate is. >> i think it's an opportunity for governor romney to flush out these issues face to face with president obama and there's no opportunity for the obama campaign to twist his message or his past words. >> he's very good at explaining what's going on, what he's proposing, what he has done. and i don't think there's anything to worry about. >> president obama and mitt romney will face off in two more debates, the next one is a week from tomorrow in danville, kentucky. president obama may be ahead in the polls in mean swing states, but nationally, the race for president remains extremely tight. the pres